Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-8
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Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-8 | |
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the AK-8 | |
Role | Standard-class glider |
National origin | Germany |
Manufacturer | Akaflieg Karlsruhe |
First flight | August 2003[1] |
Number built | 1 |
The AK-8 is a single-seat FAI-Standard Class sailplane, designed and built in Germany by members of Akaflieg Karlsruhe which can be distinguished by its elliptical leading edge.
Design and development
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/AK8_beim_Start.jpg/220px-AK8_beim_Start.jpg)
Made of synthetic materials, such as aramid fibre, carbon fibre and glass-fibre with cast aluminium alloy ribs, the AK-8 wing features an elliptical leading edge. The fuselage is derived from that of the DG-600M.
The first flight of the AK-8 took place in 2003, but a field landing accident caused severe damage to the left wing. After the left wing was rebuilt, the AK-8 flew again in 2009. In 2014 new outer wings with winglets were built to improve the flying characteristic.[2]
Specifications
[edit]General characteristics
- Length: 6.82 m (22 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 9.75 m2 (104.9 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 232.8 kg (513 lb)
- Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ AK-8 Erstflug Archived 2010-02-25 at the Wayback Machine bei akaflieg-karlsruhe.de
- ^ "AK-8" (in German). 11 June 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
Bibliography
[edit]- Jansen, Andre (2014). "kaflieg Karlsruhe AK-8: Im Zeichen der Ellipse". Aerokurier (in German). ISSN 0341-1281.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-8.
- Akaflieg Karlsruhe (in German)